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Economy of Kenya vs Samoa compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Kenya has a GDP of $120B compared to $1.18B for Samoa, ranking 64/197 and 185/197 by economy size, respectively.

Kenya has $81B in government debt (67.3% of GDP), compared to $296M (25.2% of GDP) in Samoa.

Kenya vs Samoa GDP by year

Kenya
Samoa
1x
Year GDP, current $
Kenya Samoa
2024 $120,339,557,906 $1,175,749,786
2023 $107,500,884,685 $1,044,909,500
2022 $114,448,978,153 $889,554,712
2021 $109,703,658,905 $859,724,936
2020 $100,657,505,751 $868,884,903
2019 $100,378,436,207 $912,950,466
2018 $92,202,979,985 $878,448,433
2017 $82,036,510,877 $884,844,384
2016 $74,815,144,164 $843,924,797
2015 $70,120,446,897 $824,150,499
2014 $68,285,796,514 $796,683,520
2013 $61,671,440,408 $797,736,334
2012 $56,396,704,672 $773,141,661
2011 $46,869,473,151 $744,097,050
2010 $45,405,615,064 $680,260,907
2009 $42,347,217,913 $628,006,115
2008 $35,895,153,328 $641,346,192
2007 $31,958,195,182 $573,548,460
2006 $25,825,512,284 $499,923,758
2005 $18,737,895,513 $476,801,793
2004 $16,095,337,094 $407,747,565
2003 $14,904,517,650 $333,426,188
2002 $13,147,736,899 $281,790,134
2001 $12,986,007,426 $266,299,591
2000 $12,705,350,098 $258,856,140
1999 $12,896,010,459 $255,408,060
1998 $14,093,998,844 $269,485,244
1997 $13,115,764,358 $285,475,592
1996 $12,045,865,396 $249,907,869
1995 $9,046,320,255 $224,865,731
1994 $7,148,148,564 $221,098,107
1993 $5,751,786,643 $133,122,897
1992 $8,209,120,763 $132,303,041
1991 $8,151,488,783 $125,597,205
1990 $8,572,359,038 $125,766,270
1989 $8,283,114,514 $122,888,610
1988 $8,355,380,879 $133,016,065
1987 $7,970,820,369 $111,713,922
1986 $7,239,126,568 $100,947,849
1985 $6,135,034,214 $95,572,173
1984 $6,191,437,070 $109,200,934
1983 $5,979,198,314 $111,862,824
1982 $6,431,579,357 $121,221,652
1981 $6,854,491,706 $118,190,655
1980 $7,265,315,820 $125,747,038
1979 $6,234,391,113 $122,257,393
1978 $5,303,735,111 $108,223,444
1977 $4,494,378,764 $98,295,671
1976 $3,474,542,392 $85,003,078
1975 $3,259,345,083 $93,489,283
1974 $2,969,958,812 $93,549,611
1973 $2,509,001,324 $82,452,985
1972 $2,107,279,157 $62,566,116
1971 $1,778,391,289 $53,719,569
1970 $1,603,447,359 $45,208,338
1969 $1,458,379,417 -
1968 $1,353,295,459 -
1967 $1,232,559,507 -
1966 $1,164,519,674 -
1965 $997,919,321 -
1964 $998,759,334 -
1963 $926,589,349 -
1962 $868,111,401 -
1961 $792,959,473 -
1960 $791,265,459 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya/samoa | CC BY

GDP per capita in Kenya vs Samoa by year

Kenya
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Samoa
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Kenya Samoa
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $2,132 $6,644 $5,393 $8,737
2023 $1,943 $6,317 $4,823 $8,195
2022 $2,110 $5,883 $4,132 $6,909
2021 $2,061 $5,339 $4,022 $6,350
2020 $1,928 $4,793 $4,100 $6,451
2019 $1,960 $4,687 $4,352 $6,638
2018 $1,836 $4,412 $4,232 $6,318
2017 $1,667 $4,177 $4,308 $6,280
2016 $1,554 $3,917 $4,147 $6,141
2015 $1,489 $3,678 $4,084 $5,682
2014 $1,483 $3,359 $3,983 $5,468
2013 $1,371 $3,106 $4,024 $5,387
2012 $1,285 $2,847 $3,935 $5,339
2011 $1,096 $2,750 $3,822 $5,494
2010 $1,092 $2,635 $3,524 $5,229
2009 $1,048 $2,480 $3,279 $4,906
2008 $916 $2,459 $3,374 $4,939
2007 $840 $2,481 $3,039 $4,713
2006 $700 $2,330 $2,663 $4,592
2005 $523 $2,189 $2,550 $4,379
2004 $464 $2,066 $2,189 $3,997
2003 $443 $1,975 $1,798 $3,792
2002 $403 $1,940 $1,528 $3,553
2001 $411 $1,961 $1,454 $3,335
2000 $415 $1,907 $1,425 $3,062
1999 $434 $1,910 $1,417 $2,871
1998 $488 $1,895 $1,506 $2,792
1997 $467 $1,865 $1,608 $2,722
1996 $441 $1,875 $1,419 $2,681
1995 $340 $1,818 $1,288 $2,478
1994 $276.4 $1,754 $1,277 $2,294
1993 $229 $1,723 $775 $2,323
1992 $337 $1,728 $777 $2,198
1991 $345 $1,756 $742 $2,166
1990 $374 $1,729 $744 $2,148
1989 $374 - $728 -
1988 $391 - $790 -
1987 $387 - $666 -
1986 $364 - $604 -
1985 $320 - $573 -
1984 $334 - $655 -
1983 $335 - $671 -
1982 $374 - $728 -
1981 $413 - $713 -
1980 $454 - $765 -
1979 $403 - $751 -
1978 $355 - $671 -
1977 $311 - $615 -
1976 $248.9 - $541 -
1975 $241.2 - $610 -
1974 $227.2 - $626 -
1973 $198.6 - $563 -
1972 $172.6 - $433 -
1971 $150.9 - $377 -
1970 $141 - $322 -
1969 $133.3 - - -
1968 $128.7 - - -
1967 $121.9 - - -
1966 $119.8 - - -
1965 $106.9 - - -
1964 $111.3 - - -
1963 $107.4 - - -
1962 $104.6 - - -
1961 $99.3 - - -
1960 $102.8 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya/samoa | CC BY

Kenya's GDP per capita is $2,132, ranking 154/197, compared to $5,393 in Samoa, ranking 117/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Kenya ranks 149th at $6,644, while Samoa ranks 137th at $8,737.

Economic indicators

Kenya Samoa
Gross domestic product
$120B
2024
$1.18B
2024
GDP rank
64/197
2024
185/197
2024
GDP growth
4.72%
2023-2024
4.75%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$2,132
2024
$5,393
2024
GDP per capita rank
154/197
2024
117/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$6,644
2024
$8,737
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
149/197
2024
137/197
2024
Government debt
$81B
2024
$296M
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
67.3%
2024
25.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,436
2024
$1,357
2024
Government debt per person rank
133/185
2024
135/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,229
2026
$3,750
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$15B
2024
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
30.1%
2022
31.3%
2013
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2022
2.7%
2013
Government expenditure, % of GDP
23.3%
2024
26.3%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
4.49%
2023-2024
2.17%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
9.25%
2025
0.37%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.44%
2022
5.05%
2022
Population
58955623
220932

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Kenya
Spending

Debt
Samoa
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Kenya Samoa
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 23.3% 67.3% 26.3% 25.2%
2023 22.7% 73.4% 28.8% 31.8%
2022 23.2% 67.8% 31.1% 41%
2021 24% 68.2% 34.1% 45.4%
2020 24.8% 68% 30.5% 43.2%
2019 24.4% 59.1% 31.8% 44.3%
2018 24.5% 56.4% 30% 49.4%
2017 25.2% 53.9% 30.9% 46.7%
2016 25.4% 50.4% 27.3% 49%
2015 23.8% 45.8% 30.5% 56.4%
2014 23.4% 41.3% 35.3% 54.9%
2013 23.2% 39.8% 30.7% 54.1%
2012 22.1% 37.6% 33.6% 50.9%
2011 20.1% 35.7% 33.7% 41.5%
2010 21.5% 36.7% 29.4% 40.3%
2009 20.3% 36% 31.5% 33.3%
2008 18.9% 34.3% 27.7% 28.2%
2007 18.1% 34.2% 31.1% 31.5%
2006 17.3% 37.1% 27.7% 33.5%
2005 16.2% 37.4% 30.6% 34.2%
2004 15.4% 40.8% 27.3% 39.8%
2003 16% 43.8% 28.5% 42.8%
2002 15.7% 42% 30.7% 50.3%
2001 14.9% 41.3% 30% 53.8%
2000 14.1% 43.1% 30.4% 55.8%
1999 13.7% 38.4% 33.8% 59.4%
1998 15.3% 38.5% 28.1% 58.9%
1997 15.6% 36% 31% -
1996 15.2% 40.5% 38.9% -
1995 17.3% 52.1% 42.2% -
1994 18.8% 57% 54.1% -
1993 18.9% 61.6% 49.5% -
1992 17.6% 41.2% 43.4% -
1991 16.4% 43% - -
1990 17.2% 37.6% - -
1989 16.3% 33.4% - -
1988 15.9% 33.9% - -
1987 15.5% 36.3% - -
1986 15.3% 31.3% - -
1985 15.6% 28.8% - -
1984 14.9% 25.6% - -
1983 14.6% 26.1% - -
1982 16.2% 26.9% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1997, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya/samoa | CC BY

In 2024, Kenya's government spending was $28B, accounting for 23.3% of its GDP, while Samoa spent $310M, or 26.3% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 67.3% in Kenya and 25.2% in Samoa, ranking 64/185 and 165/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Kenya

Samoa
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Kenya Samoa
2024 -5.77% 9.29%
2023 -5.71% 2.7%
2022 -6.06% 5.03%
2021 -7.2% 1.71%
2020 -8.13% 5.41%
2019 -7.42% 1.51%
2018 -6.94% 0.06%
2017 -7.4% -1.98%
2016 -7.47% -0.35%
2015 -6.68% -3.79%
2014 -5.75% -5.38%
2013 -5.25% -3.82%
2012 -5.29% -7.43%
2011 -3.64% -5.25%
2010 -3.67% -5.49%
2009 -3.12% -2.98%
2008 -1.95% -0.36%
2007 -0.95% 0.55%
2006 -0.43% -0.44%
2005 -0.19% 0.23%
2004 0.5% -0.74%
2003 -0.73% -0.51%
2002 -1.29% -1.77%
2001 -0.53% -1.96%
2000 0.38% -0.62%
1999 0.84% 0.27%
1998 -0.03% 1.64%
1997 -0.91% 1.92%
1996 -0.49% 1.21%
1995 -0.23% -5.82%
1994 -4.14% -9.51%
1993 -8.57% -13.2%
1992 -8.28% -9.89%
1991 -6.56% -
1990 -3.28% -
1989 -2.39% -
1988 -1.97% -
1987 -2.27% -
1986 -2.98% -
1985 -3.05% -
1984 -2.55% -
1983 -2.17% -
1982 -3.07% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya/samoa | CC BY

In 2024, Kenya's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $6.94B, equivalent to 5.77% of GDP. This compares to Samoa's surplus of $109M, or 9.29% of GDP.

Over the past 33 years, Kenya recorded a fiscal deficit in 30 of those years, while Samoa ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Kenya posted an annual deficit equal to 3.71% of GDP, compared to deficit of 1.51% of GDP for Samoa.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Kenya

Samoa
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Kenya Samoa
2024 4.49% 2.17%
2023 7.67% 7.92%
2022 7.66% 11%
2021 6.11% 3.13%
2020 5.41% -1.57%
2019 5.24% 0.98%
2018 4.69% 4.2%
2017 8.01% 1.75%
2016 6.3% 1.3%
2015 6.58% 0.72%
2014 6.88% -0.41%
2013 5.72% 0.61%
2012 9.38% 2.05%
2011 14% 5.24%
2010 3.96% 0.78%
2009 9.23% 6.32%
2008 26.2% 11.6%
2007 9.76% 5.58%
2006 14.5% 3.7%
2005 10.3% 1.86%
2004 11.6% 16.3%
2003 9.82% 0.12%
2002 1.96% 8.05%
2001 5.74% 3.84%
2000 9.98% 0.97%
1999 5.74% 0.27%
1998 6.72% 2.22%
1997 11.4% 6.86%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya/samoa | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Kenya has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 8.39%, compared with 3.84% in Samoa. In 2024, inflation was 4.49% in Kenya and 2.17% in Samoa.

Top exports between countries

Kenya
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $1K
Samoa
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Kenya Samoa
Current account balance
-$1.55B
2024
$65.6M
2024
Current account balance ranking
134/190
2024
72/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.29%
2024
+5.58%
2024
Goods imports
$22.2B
2024
$448M
2024
Goods exports
$12.5B
2024
$42.2M
2024
Service imports
$5.64B
2024
$128M
2024
Service exports
$8.04B
2024
$327M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
23.1%
2024
48.9%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
17.1%
2024
30.7%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Kenya Samoa
Economic freedom 55.5 68
Economic freedom ranking 128/197 52/197
Property rights 40.2 77.1
Government integrity 32.7 64.1
Judicial effectiveness 47 77.6
Tax burden 76.3 79.3
Government spending 84.1 75.2
Fiscal health 36.2 98.7
Business freedom 61.5 63.7
Labor freedom 56.5 73.7
Monetary freedom 75.1 69.4
Trade freedom 52 67.2
Investment freedom 55 40
Financial freedom 50 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Kenya
Samoa
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Kenya Samoa
2026 55.5 68
2025 54.8 66.6
2024 53.6 67.2
2023 52.5 68.3
2022 52.6 68.3
2021 54.9 61.9
2020 55.3 62.1
2019 55.1 62.2
2018 54.7 61.5
2017 53.5 58.4
2016 57.5 63.5
2015 55.6 61.9
2014 57.1 61.1
2013 55.9 57.1
2012 57.5 60.5
2011 57.4 60.6
2010 57.5 60.4
2009 58.7 59.5
2008 59.3 -
2007 59.6 -
2006 59.7 -
2005 57.9 -
2004 57.7 -
2003 58.6 -
2002 58.2 -
2001 57.6 63.1
2000 59.7 60.8
1999 58.2 58.7
1998 58.4 49.9
1997 60.1 51.5
1996 56.4 47.6
1995 54.5 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya/samoa | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Kenya is 55.5, ranking 128/197, compared to 68 for Samoa, ranking 52/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Kenya Samoa
Services, % of GDP
55.3%
2024
69.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
16.5%
2024
10.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
22.5%
2024
9.8%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$118B
2024
$1.1B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$6,540
2024
$8,620
2024
Total reserves including gold
$10.1B
2024
$508M
2024
Total reserves ranking
75/177
2024
155/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$45.8M
2024
-$1.69M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$463M
2024
$3.74M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$418M
2024
$2.05M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.79%
2024
3.15%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
39.8%
2022
21.9%
2018
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
16.8%
2024
29%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/kenya/samoa | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1997, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  8. TradeMap (2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.